Valve for selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor



Aug. '12, 1969 w, J; HAMEL ET AL 3,460,721

VALVE FOR SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL 0F LIQUID OR VAPOR Filed on. 22, 1965 a Sheets-Sheet 1 11 4/ g 3 4/ w 17 i 13 l 35 m i 6 43 4/ 1 l 39 3 l 15 7 3/ 35 33" x 15 kg?! y 52,

I 5- I Z1 i INVENTORS WILLIAM J. HAMEIL 0H/VJ.P TR,J.

- ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1969 w. J. HAMEL ETAL VALVE FOR SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL 0F LIQUID 0R VAPOR Filed Oct. 22; 1965 3 Sheets-Sheetl ma 7 Wu 2 a w a M m .b 9 MW 5 7 W w 7 w 2 F Z 3? o 5 Z3 7 i? Z A \\\wwwv l ll r T b\m I m w T g m 5 5 w ya a w a W 5 J N J. Parr ,JR

ATTOR EY United States Patent Ofiice 3,460,721 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 3,460,721 VALVE FOR SELECTIVE WITHDRAWAL OF LIQUID OR VAPOR William J. Hamel and John J. Potter, In, St. Albans,

W. Va., assiguors to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,013 Int. Cl. 365d 83/14; F04f /16; F16k 51/00 US. Cl. ZZZ-402.18 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A specially constructed valve has been discovered which is adapted to be mounted on top of containers and pressure vessels containing liquid or vapor under some positive pressure above atmospheric pressure. This valve comprises a valve body having a passageway through which liquid or vapor can be withdrawn. The valve body has a lower tapered end with vapor ports interiorly of the cylinder and also comprises means for lowering or raising the tapered end of the valve body relative to the vapor ports so as to withdraw vapor or liquid selectively.

This invention relates to valves and particularly to a valve for selective withdrawal of dissimilar fluids, such as liquid and vapor from a common source. The present invention is more particularly concerned with a valve for selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor which is adapted for mounting on pressure vessels or cylinders containing liquid and vapor under some positive pressure above atmospheric pressure.

It is often necessary to withdraw fluids from a vessel which contains both liquid .and vapor. It is sometimes desirable to withdraw liquid and, at other times, to withdraw vapors only. It has heretofore been customary to install a valve at the top of the vessel and to simply open this valve in order to withdraw vapor from the vessel. If liquid removal is desired, the common practice has been to invert the vessel so that the valve will be at the bottom position. However, inverting the vessel is obviously extremely inconvenient and is often difiicult, particularly in cases of large vessels and cylinders.

Selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor from pressure vessels has also been accomplished by a valving arrangement which comprises two dip tubes, one terminating at the bottom of the vessel for the removal of the liquid and the other terminating in the vapor space above the liquid for the removal of vapor. The dip tubes extend outwardly from the vessel and terminate into .a common outlet. A separate valve is installed in each of the dip tubes upstream of the common outlet. The removal of liquid from the vessel is accomplished by first shutting off the valve in the vapor tube and then opening the valve in the liquid tube, while the removal of vapor from the vessel is effected by shutting 011 the valve in the liquid tube and opening the valve in the vapor tube. This arrangement however, requires the use of separate valves for controlling the withdrawal of liquid or vapor from the vessel.

It is therefore and object of this invention to provide a valve for selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor from pressurized vessel containing dissimilar fluids. It is a further object of this invention to provide a valve structure which is easy to fabricate, simple to install on pressurized containers and is effectively employed for the selective withdrawal of liquid or vapor.

The above and other objects of the present invention will become more evident from the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical section of a. valve structure embodying the principal features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical section of a valve structure of this invention in assembled position;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section illustrating the relative positions of the principal features of the valve during vapor withdrawal from a vessel;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical section illustrating the relative positions of the principal features of the valve during liquid withdrawal from a vessel;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section of another embodiment of the valve structure of the present invention;

FIGURE 6 is a vertical section illustrating the relative positions of the principal features of the valve structure shown in FIGURE 5 during vapor withdrawal from the vessel, and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical section illustrating the relative positions of the principal features of the valve shown in FIGURE 5 during liquid withdrawal from the vessel.

Like numerals are employed to designate like parts in the drawing whenever possible.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown (FIGURE 1), a valve body 1 having an internally threaded upper end 9, an intermediate externally threaded section 3 and a tapered lower end 5. A passageway 7 extends concentrically through the valve body as shown in FIGURE 1. The valve body is adapted to be rotated by the valve handles 11 either in a clockwise or in a counterclockwise direction. The valve assembly (upper section of FIGURE 2) also includes an internally threaded valve gland 13 which threadedly engages with threaded section 3 of the valve body, .and an internally threaded annular section such as a valve nut 15 which may be securely held to the valve gland by a retaining ring 17 or by any other suitable means.

The valve assembly which has been described above is adapted to. be employed in connection with a companion spud 19 which is welded or otherwise attached to the top of a vessel 21. The spud .19 is of generally annular section, is threaded both externally and internally above vessel 21 and is tapered or truncated inside the vessel. The tapered portion of the spud contains at least one, preferably a pair of diametrically opposite vapor ports 23. The tapered portion of spud 19 terminates into a relatively short tubular extension to which is attached an eductor tube 25 which extends vertically down and terminates near the bottom of the vessel. The eductor tube can either be a further downward extension of the extended portion of the spud or it can. be a separate plastic or metal tubing attached to the end of the spud.

As was previously mentioned, spud 19 is threaded both internally and externally. It is internally threaded to receive an externally threaded annular member such as a plug 27 which is adapted for the insertion of the tapered end 5 of valve body 1. A rupture disc 29 generally consisting of a relatively thin metal is securely positioned at the bottom of plug 27. This disc serves to seal the pressure inside vessel 21.

The valve assembly can be mounted on the companion spud connection by screwing the valve nut 15 onto the external threads of spud 19 until the entire assembly is tightly secured. Leakage of the fluid to the atmosphere after rupture of disc 29 is prevented by means of O-ring seal 31 which engages into annular groove 33 in the valve body.

In operation, the valve assembly is secured to the companion spud connection in the above-described manner. The removal of vapor from the vessel is then accomplished by turning the valve handle 11 in a counterclockwise direction to the maximum upwardly extended position as limited by the limit ring 35. The valve nut 15 is tightly screwed onto spud 19 until the tapered end of the valve body 1 pierces the rupture disc 29 so that the tapered end 5 terminates at the same level or slightly above vapor ports 23. Engagement of the valve and the companion spud in this manner permits the withdrawal of vapors only. This arrangement is illustrated in FIG- URE 3.

In order to remove liquid from the vessel, the tapered end 5 is caused to move downwardly by turning the valve handle in a clockwise direction until vapor ports 23 are essentially blocked off by the tapered end 5. Additional vapor seal is eifected by O-ring 37 which encircles the eductor tube 25 at a point slightly below the vapor ports. Thus, the liquid in the vessel which is under some positive pressure greater than atmospheric pressure is withdrawn through the eductor tube and the passageway in the valve body and is conveyed away to the desired destination by suitable means such as a tubing attached to threaded section 9. The arrangement whereby liquid rather than vapor can be withdrawn from the vessel is illustrated by FIGURE 4.

If desired, a filter element such as 39 can be positioned in the passageway 7 below threaded section 9 to remove suspended solids from the fluid leaving the valve. Furthermore, protection against over-pressure in the vessel can be afforded by providing a pressure relieving device 41 located in the valve body 1. This pressure relieving device may be an annular groove communicating at one end to the passageway 7 of the valve body 1 and at the other end to the atmosphere. It can contain a rupture disc or some other pressure relieving mechanism.

The valve assembly can be readily disassembled from its companion spud by unscrewing the valve nut from the spud until it is completely disengaged. Safety vent holes 43, provided in the valve nut as shown in FIG- URES 1 and 2, allow pressure release from the vessel while the valve nut is still engaged with the spud. This permits the release of pressure from the vessel while the valve nut is still in engagement with spud during the disassembling operation.

Although the present invention has been heretofore described with a certain degree of particularity to facilitate its understanding and mode of operation, several alternatives and modifications may suggest themselves to a skilled artisan in the light of this disclosure. These alternatives and modifications are nevertheless within the spirit and scope of the present invention. One such alternative, for example, is described in connection with FIG- URES 57 as follows.

Referring to FIGURE 5 it will be noted that the spud connection and its construction are essentially the same as in FIGURES 1 and 2. However, the valve assembly shown in FIGURE 5 ditfers in several of its features from the assembly described in connection with FIGURES 1 and 2. Thus referring to FIGURE 5, a valve assembly is shown comprising a valve housing 1 internally threaded in its lower portion for attachment to a valve body I having a threaded section 3 and a lower tapered end 5. A passageway 7 extends concentrically through the valve body 1 and the housing 1. The upper end of passageway 7 is adapted for attachment to a different construction than that shown in FIGURES 1 and 2.

A fitting 45 such as a plug or a nipple is attached to one side of the housing and is provided with a passageway 7' which at one end is open to the atmosphere and at the other end communicates with passageway 7. A flow control element such as a plug 47 provides an effective means for controlling the flow of fluid into passageway 7. A stem 49 extends vertically upward from the plug 47 and is adapted to vertically bias the plug upwardly or downwardly by the operation of the control handle 51 which is pivotally attached by a pin 53 to an upward earlike extension 55 of the valve housing. Resilient members 57 such as for example a coil spring provide a compressive force against which plug 47 can be vertically moved downward by the operation of handle 51.

The valve is assembled essentially in the same manner which was described in connection with the valve assembly in FIGURE 2 i.e., the nut 15 is threadedly engaged onto spud 19 to secure tight engagement by turning the nut in a clockwise direction. The withdrawal of vapor from the vessel is then effected by turning the gland 1.3 in a clockwise direction thereby biasing the valve body 1 downwardly until its tapered end pierces rupture disc 29 which, as was previously described, is secured by the nipple 27. The valve gland is further turned in a clockwise direction until the tapered end of the valve body is at or slightly above the upper extremity of vapor ports 23. The relative positions of the tapered end of the valve body and the vapor ports during the withdrawal of vapor from the vessel are shown in FIGURE 6. In order to withdraw vapor from the vessel the control handle 51!. is rotated in a vertical clockwise direction thereby lowering plug 47 and hence allowing the vapors to flow through passageway 7' which may be connected through a tubing to a receiving vessel which are not shown in this drawing. To stop the passage of vapor, handle 51 is simply reversed to its original position thereby raising stem 49 and plug 47 and effecting stoppage of the fluid flow through the passageways.

In order to remove liquid rather than vapor from the vessel, gland 13 is turned in a clockwise direction thereby downwardly moving the valve body until its tapered end blocks off vapor ports 23. Additional vapor seal is effected by a sealing means 37 such as an O-ring or a valve seat upon which the tapered end 5 of the valve body 1 can be tightly seated. Plug 47 is then lowered as in the previous manner. Since the liquid in the vessel is under some positive pressure which is greater than atmospheric pressure it will rise through passageway 7 and flow out of the valve through passageway 7 and conveyed easily by a tubing to some external receiving vessel not shown in the drawing. The liquid withdrawal may be discontinued by rotating the handle 51 in a counterclockwise direction thereby effecting stoppage of the fluid flow through the passageways. The arrangement of the valve body during liquid withdrawal is shown in FIGURE 7.

It can be appreciated that the amount of fluid withdrawal through passageway 7 can be controlled by rotation of the control handle 51 to any desired degree less than 180 thereby varying the opening which results from the lowering of the plug 47 between the passageways.

It should be noted that the arrangement in the interior of the vessel can be the same as shown in FIGURES 1-4, or it can be modified as in FIGURES 5-7. In the latter instance, a tubular member 25 is shown attached interiorly of the vessel and having an upper tapered portion containing at least one, preferably a pair of diametrically opposite vapor ports 23. O-ring 37 provides a vapor seal during liquid withdrawal from the vessel.

Alternatively, the tubular member inside the vessel can be an extension of the spud and integrally attached therewith. Several other minor modifications can be made in the construction of the tubular member or other parts of the entire assembly without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A Valve structure for controlling vapor and liquid eduction from a vessel which comprises, in combination a valve body having an upper interiorly threaded end, an intermediate threaded section and a lower exteriorly tapered end, a passageway in said valve body, an internally threaded first annular member adapted to be threadedly engaged with said intermediate threaded section of valve body, a second internally threaded annular member surrounding the valve body below said first annular member, means for securing said second annular member to said first annular member, a third annular member attached to the top of the vessel, said third annular member being internally and externally threaded exteriorly of said vessel and receiving said second annular member thereon, said third member being tapered interiorly of said vessel adjacent the upper wall of said vessel and terminating into a vertically extending tubular member which terminates near the bottom of said vessel, said tapered section of said third annular member having at least one opening therein, and adapted for engagement by said tapered end to close said opening, a fourth annular member threadedly engaged into said third annular memher and adapted for the insertion of said tapered end of the valve body to establish fluid communication through said valve structure, a rupture element securely positioned at the bottom of said fourth annular member and adapted to be pierced by said tapered end of the valve body, and means for axially positioning said tapered end to selectively place said valve body in one position wherein said passageway is placed in communication with said opening and a second position wherein said tapered end closes said opening and said passageway is placed in communication with said tubular member.

2.. A valve structure for controlling vapor and liquid eduction from a vessel which comprises, in combination, a valve body having an upper housing, an intermediate threaded section and a lower tapered end, a first passageway in said valve body, a second passageway extending laterally through said housing and communicating at one end with said first passageway and at the other end with the atmosphere, a flow control means between said first passageway and said second passageway, means for axially moving said flow control means, an internally threaded first annular member adapted to be engaged with said intermediate threaded section and mounted so as to vercally adjust the position of said tapered end of the valve body by the rotation of said first annular member, a second internally threaded annular member surrounding the valve body below said first annular member, means for securing said second annular member to said first annular member, a third annular member attached to the top of the vessel, said third annular member being internally and externally threaded exteriorly of said vessel, and receiving said second annular member thereon, a tubular member extending vertically from said third annular member and terminating near the bottom of said vessel, said tubular member having at least one opening therein interiorly of and adjacent the top wall of said vessel, said tapered end adapted to close said opening a fourth annular member threadedly engaged into said third annular member and adapted for insertion of said tapered end of the valve body to establish fluid communication through said valve structure, a rupture element securely positioned at the bottom of said fourth annular member and adapted to be pierced by said tapered end of the valve body, said first annular member axially positioning said tapered end to selectively place said valve body in one position wherein said first passageway is placed in communication with said opening and a second position wherein said tapered end closes said opening and said first passageway is placed in communication with said tubular member.

3. A device for controlling vapor and liquid eduction from a vessel which comprises, in combination, a first annular member attached to the top of said vessel, said first annular member being internally and externally threaded exteriorly of said vessel, a tubular member extending vertically from said first annular member and terminating near the bottom of said vessel, said tubular member having at least one opening therein interiorly of said vessel, a second annular member threadedly engaged into said first annular member, a rupture element securely positioned at the bottom of said second annular member, a hollow vertical member having an upper end and a lower tapered end adapted for insertion into and fluid communication with said second annular member, and for sealing 01f said opening in said tubular member, means for biasing said upper end of said hollow vertical member so as to axially bias the position of said lower tapered end thereby piercing said rupture element and defining a fluid passageway for educting fluid from the vessel whereby liquid at the base of said vessel under gas pressure will flow through said tubular member and said hollow vertical member when said opening in said tubular member is sealed and gas at the top of said vessel will flow through said opening in said tubular member and said hollow vertical member when said opening in said tubular member is not sealed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,891,045 12/1932 Freygang 222--5 2,091,737 8/1937 Longway 22283 3,258,160 6/1966 Allen 222-397 XR 3,283,962 11/1966 Whitmore ZZZ-402.18

WILLIAM F. ODEA, Primary Examiner R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 137--318; 222-541 

